FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany—German compounder Kraiburg TPE is bringing "the best of both worlds" together in a technology that can produce high-performance thermoplastic elastomer hybrids.
The company is at the testing phase of the TEH technology, which can combine the processability of plastics with application properties of elastomers to create chemical- and heat-resistant hybrid materials.
"With this technology, higher temperature resistance of up to 150°, we aim to enter into new markets such as automotive and industrial machinery," Kraiburg TPE CEO Franz Hinterecker said.
The performance properties of these TEH materials include hardness from 55-80 Shore A, permanent operating temperatures of up to 150° C (302° F) and chemical stability against materials such as oils, lubricants, fuels and coolants.
The products are particularly suitable for use in the environment of internal combustion engines, in heat management of drives and batteries for electric vehicles, as well as in lubrication and cooling systems of machines, process technology and buildings.
The difference between TEH materials and other conventional thermoplastic elastomers is the polymer basis, according to Hinterecker.
"To put it very simply, we can use almost any kind of rubber to produce these products. So, we have created a kind of platform where we can compound different kinds of TPEs based on rubber technology," he said.